Strawberry Fields Forever!!!

This past Friday we joined the play group from church on a trip to the Strawberry Field. I was so excited because I inherited my Grandma Phoebe's love for the most fabulous fruit in the world.... strawberries. Heather Moss arranged the whole day and it was so much fun. Our group gathered and started with a tour of the animals. We saw chickens, goats (some w/ child), roosters, a peacock and bunnies (Luke's favorite). After that, we all got on a covered wagon and went for a ride around the cow pastures. We got within a few feet of the cows. After the ride, came the best part.... picking strawberries. Our picking went as follows: I was picking beautiful red strawberries and putting them in my basket, Luke was picking strawberries and putting them in his basket and then dumping them in my basket (he was a big helper) and Carman was picking strawberries and squeezing them in her hands and then trying to eat some of the mess in her hand. It was a lot of fun!

I also had to mention Luke's last soccer game. He did such a good job! He scored 4 out of the 6 goals that his team scored. He was on Fire!! (good thing, he plays for Team Fire)

This weekend was so busy because on Friday night, I had a much needed girl's night to the movies with Allison, Courtney, Jenny and Leah (we later saw Joy and Nikki). We went to see "Baby Mama". Very funny! Then on Saturday morning, we had Luke's soccer game. After that I rushed home to get food ready for Allison's baby shower. Then rushed to help set up for the shower. It went really well. The food was yummers! Kim Bloomfield did an AMAZING job on the cake. She put Your Perfect Cake to shame. I think Allison and Tommy got a lot of nice stuff for their twins that are on the way. I hate that I don't have any pictures to post but it was very nice!!! Then this weekend we have Ashley's wedding shower at Brook Valley. That should be fun too! Busy, busy, busy, but I wouldn't haven't any other way. Except maybe 1 weekend w/ nothing to do!

I almost forgot... the other day when Christian and I were cleaning the strawberries that we picked at the Strawberry field, Christian said "JoAnna, come and look at Carman". When I turned around I saw Carman talking to her baby and changing her diaper. It was such a sweet moment. She is such a mother wannabe! I love her to pieces!

Grandparents and Sunny Days!

Grandparents and Sunny Days are 2 of my favorite words!

Let me start with grandparents.... Luke and Carman are so lucky to have amazing grandparents in their lives. They have a sweet memaw, a kind grandma, a funny PopPop, a great-grandma Phoebe and a great-grandma MomMom. I envy them because as I was growing up, for the most part, I had just one grandma. Granted she had enough sweetness to make up the difference (that would be grandma Phoebe). My reason for all this talk on grandparents is because, not only do Luke and Carman have all these wonderful grandparents.... they have an adopted pair of grandparents. Our neighbors Dora and Gary are the absolute best to our kids. They treat them as if they were their own and our kids love them. They seriously would do anything for them. So I had to post these adorable picture of Luke and Carman with their "other" grandparents.

Next topic... Sunny Days. This past Friday in Eastern NC was absolutely beautiful. I decided to take full advantage of it and go outside with the kids. I put their bathing suits on them and filled the water table. Luke could not understand why our country club pool was not open yet, so he improvised and created his own. They took the legs off the water table and made that their pool. We had a really good time outside. We even washed Christian's car for him. In the process of washing cars, I let the kids hose down the car. Big mistake... Luke hosed me down instead. He couldn't stop laughing as he was squirting me w/ the hose and my squeals only egged him on. I think the whole neighborhood heard me. No pictures of that though. But here are some pictures from our fun sunny day!

10 Years Ago... This is going to be a stretch!!

I am so excited that I got tagged. Thanks Leah! Up until this week, I have never been tagged before. Granted, I enjoy reading others tags, but I am not so sure if I can remember 10 years ago. I have a hard time remembering yesterday. But here goes....


10 Years Ago:


It was April 1998. I was in my Senior year at ECU. I was about to complete my BSBA in Marketing that upcoming December. I lived on Moseley Drive with Ashley and Jody. We frequently ate at Bojangles by our duplex. (So how was I 20 lb.s lighter then???) I had very little, if no worries at this time. I think I was working at my mother's day care center. As I was approaching graduation, I had no clue what I wanted to do. My daddy suggested graduate school around this time. So I was preparing to take the GMAT. That's pretty much all I can remember right now!!


5 Things on my To-Do List today:


I love to-do lists, but rarely do I get to stick to them b/c something always comes up.


1) Finish some ECU work.


2) Clean the house. This is on my to-do list everyday!! Especially since our house is STILL on the market!


3) Take the kids to the park. The weather is suppose to be nice, so I better make some good use of it!


4) Finish writing Thank You notes for Carman. She is extremely smart, but cannot quite handle writing.


5) Spend some quality time with my husband. Man, I love him more and more these days! I think we are going to Nikki's play tonight.


Things that I would do if I was suddenly a billionaire:

• Build a beautiful house in Pitt County



• Build a beautiful house in Morehead City on the water!



• Pay off the mortgages of all my family.



• Donate to Idols Give Back



• Set up an Education Fund for my children and my nieces and nephews



• Set up an investment account for my children



• Go on a shopping spree!!!



• Donate some money to my church!



• Travel, travel, travel and travel some more!!



• I am sure that I could name some more!

3 Bad Habits:

1) Bite my nails

2) Bad Cook

3) Procrastinate

Places that I have lived:

• Ayden, NC



• Greenville, NC



• Orlando, FL



• Winterville, NC

Things that most people don't know about me:

• I inherited club thumbs from my grandma (I use to hate them and now I love them)



• I LOVE reality TV (Dancing w/ the stars, AI, Big Brother, etc.)



• My family use to pick on me when I was little for how tacky I dressed myself.



• I love to squeeze ( it is an impulse that I cannot control )



• I don't like cats (they scare me plus I am allergic)

Jobs that I have had:

• Worked at Burger King in Ayden (for 1 month)


• Worked at my mother's day care center


• Lifeguard at Walt DisneyWorld's Contempary Resort


• Worked on campus at ECU in Continuing Studies


• Worked w/ ECU Telefund


• Graduate Assistant for Marketing and Professional Programs


• Marketing Representative for Online Information Services


• Marketing Analyst for Overton's


• Real Estate Broker for Aldridge and Southerland


• Teaching Instructor at ECU


• Mommy (get the best kisses w/ this one)

I think that does it!! So now I get to tag someone... the only people that I know of that look at my blog are Leah(who tagged me), Regina and Alisha. So Regina and Alisha you are tagged!!!

Carman is 2!!

Yes, my children's birthdays are less than 1 week apart. So this past weekend, we celebrated my sweet little baby girl's birthday. Carman was born on April Fool's day and I definitely felt this year like the joke was on me (as far as her party is concerned). To start off, we planned a lovely party at the park in Ayden which would allow the kids to run, run, run! If you have forgotten the weather this past weekend.... let me remind you.....Rain, Rain, Rain!! So Friday night I called everyone to let them know it would be relocating to the day care center. Joy was very kind to let us use the "Joyful Beginnings" day care for Carman's party. Secondly, when we get to the party I was running late (surprise, surprise) and I had to scurry to get some decorations up as guests arrived. Third, I totally forgot the drinks and candle (so Christian had to run to the store and get some). Fourth, roughly 15 children and their parents were stuffed into a small space = noise and chaos. With all this in mind..... Carman had the time of her life. We had a karoke machine, which Carman made use of. Her song of choice was "Who let the dogs out". Her verse was "who, who, who, who". She also danced along to others singing on the karoke machine. So I must say, despite all the craziness Carman had a ball at her party and that is all that matters to me!!! One quick side note: next year Luke and Carman will have a combined party at a facility that allows me to simply show up and enjoy their party!!

I cannot close this post without noting how very very lucky I am to have Carman in my life. Before having Carman I was worried that I would not be able to love another baby as much as I did Luke. But it totally amazes me how I cannot only love Carman just as much but I cannot imagine my life without her. She is such a happy, beautiful, loving child. I cannot help but smile every time I look at her. I also love the fact that she is "momma's girl". Carman, I love you, I love you, I love you!!